Fluid-pressure regulator



(No Model.)

IjW. WOODS.

FLUID PRESSURE REGULATom Patented Dec. 1, 1896.

UNITED STATES i ISAIAI'I IV. IVOODS, OF I-IARRISVILLE, IVEST VIRGINIA.

FLUID-PRESSURE REGULATR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 572,464, dated December1, 1896.

Application filed August 27, 1896. Serial No. 604,112. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Beit known that I, ISAIAH IV. VOODS, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at I'Iarrisville, in the county of Ritchieand State ofTest Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFluid-Pressure Regulators; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to lettersof reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

In the consumption of gas, particularly natural gas, a very seriousobjection is often encountered owing to the varying pressure in the mainand distributing pipes and consequent irregularity of the flame at theburner, which requires constant watchin g-especially when the gas isused for .fuel-to prevent the excess of flame catching to an inflammablepart of the building. To obviate this objectionable feature in utilizingnatural gas, I have devised an automatic regulator which is placed atany convenient point in the distributing-pipe to eifect a steady flameat the burner irrespective of the pressure 'in the main, the regulatorbeing adjustable to give any maximum flow past the same.

With the above ends in view my invention consists in providing aswinging valve or gate which is moved toward its seat by the pressure ofgas against the same, to thereby reduce the size of the feed-openin g, arod under tension bearing against the valve or gate to regulate thepressure required to moveV the latter.

The invention further consists in the particular construction andcombination of the parts hereinafter fully set forth and claimedl In theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure lis avertical sectional view through a Huid-pressure regulator constructed inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional vic-w onthe line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the plugremoved.

I have shown my invention applied to an ordinary valve, the plug beingconstructed to receive my improvements.

A designates the valve-casing, which is of the form to present a lowerchamber band an upper chamber h, which are separated by a horizontalpartition a, having an opening and an annular seat to receive the lowerend of a plug C. The distributing-pipe from the main communicates withthe lower chamber b of the valve-casing,while the chamber b connectswith the pipe that leads to the burner or burners, and it will be notedthat the said chamber h completelysurrounds the plug C, for the purposehereinafter explained.

An'intermediate portion of the plug C is threaded to engage athreadedopeningin the valve-casing, and the upper part is octagonal to receive anut-wrench, while the extreme upper end is rounded and milled to providefor operating the plug manually. The lower end of the plug is shaped toproject a slight distance into the chamber of the valvecasing and isprovided with a passage c, leading from the chamber h into the chamberh' out of one side of the plug, as shown in Fig. 2. The end of the plugis cut away trans versely to present depending wings or guides c' c forthe swinging valve or gate D, which is hinged or pivoted at one end tothe plug,

Vthe free end of said valve or gate being limited in its downwardmovement by lugs c2, projecting inward from the wings or guides c. Asshown7 the valve or gate D is pivoted to the plug by a headed pin d,passing through a vertical aperture therein. This is the preferred formofconstruction, though a hinge connection may be employed if desired.

IVith so much of the device hereinbefore described the gas entering thechamber ZJ from the pipe I5 will pass around the free end of the valveor gate D over the same into the passage c to the chamber l1 and fromthere into the pipe IY, which leads to the burners. Should the pressurein the main become strong from any cause7 the gas entering the chamber babove the normal pressure would raise the free end of the valve or gateD and reduce'the size of the opening above the same leading to thepassage-way c, and thereby regulate the ilow into the pipe IS; but toprevent the valve entirely closing the passage c I have providedchannels c3 in the lower end of the plug leading thereto7 as shown inthe drawings.

In order to regulate the amount of pressure required to operate thevalve D, a tension device is employed consisting of a plunger-rodE,positioned in a vertical opening in the plug C to bear upon the free endof the valve, the rod having a collar e and an encircling helical springF interposed between said collar and a thumb-screw G let into the upperend of the vertical opening in the plug and engaging threads therein.rlhe thumbscrew has a central bore to receive the end of the rod andpermit the screw to move down upon the helical spring, as well as topermit the upward movement of the rod against the action of the spring.The upper end of the thumb-screw is embraced by a nut g and packing g toprevent the escape of gasat this point. rihe vertical opening throughthe plugis reduced at its lower end, as shown, so that the rod will fitsnugly therein.

From the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the operation of the device will be apparent, for any excessof pressure in the chamber b will tend to reduce the feed-opening abovethe valve or gate D by forcing the latter toward its seat, and theamount of pressure required to operate said valve can be regulated byadj usting the nut G to increase or diminish the tension on the springF. Thus the mechanism can be set to provide for a certain maximum ofpressure with relation to the burner.

My improved construction presents a simple and compact arrangement bywhich the parts can be readily separated for cleaning or examination.

I am aware that a Huid-pressure regulator has been constructed to embodya swinging valve or gate connected to weighted arms which regulate themovement of said valve toward its seat, and I therefore lay no broadclaim to cover such construction; but

lVhat I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination in a fluid-pressure regulater, of avalve-casinghaving two chambers separated by a partition with anopeningl through the same; a plug loeatedin the valvecasing and providedwith a passage-way connecting the chambers therein; a swinging valve orgate adapted to move toward the inlet end of the passage-way; togetherwith a tension device consisting of a spring-actuated plunger bearingagainst the swinging valve and an adjusting-screw for regulating thespring-pressure upon said valve, substantially as shown and for thepurpose set forth.

2. The combination in a luid-pressu re regulator, of a valve-casinghaving two chambers separated by a partition with an opening through thesame; a plug located within the valve-casing and provided with apassageway connecting the chambers; a swinging valve located in theinlet-chamber and adapted to move toward the inlet end of thepassage-way of the plug; a rod positioned in the plug and bearingagainst the free end of the valve; a spring bearing upon the rod, and athumb-screw for adjusting the tension of the spring to increase ordiminish the pressure upon the swinging valve, substantially as shownand for the purpose set forth.

The combination in a fluid-pressure regulator, of a valve-casing havingchambers connected to induction and eduction pipes; a plug locatedwithin the valve-casing and provided with a 'passage -way connecting thechambers and with depending wings or guides on opposite sides of theinlet end of said passage-way; a swinging valve or gate located betweenthe wings or guides; together with a tension device consisting of a rodpositioned in a vertical opening through the plug and bearing upon thefree end of the swinging valve, said rod having a collar rigidly securedthereto, a helical spring encircling the rod and in engagement with thecollar, and a hollow thumb-screw bearing upon the upper end of thespring to increase or diminish the pressure of the rod upon the swingingvalve, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination in a duid-pressure regulator, of a valve-casinghaving chambers connected to induction and eduction pipes; a pluglocated within the valve-casing and provided with a passage-wayconnecting the. chambers and with depending win gs orguides on oppositesides of the inlet end of said passage-way; a swinging valve or gatelocated between the wings or guides so that the free end thereof will beadjoining the end wall of the chamber opposite the inlet end thereof;together with a tension device consisting of a rod positioned in avertical opening through the plug and bearing upon the free end of theswinging valve or gate, said rod having a rigid collar, a helical springmounted upon the rod to bear upon the collar, a thumbscrew bearing uponthe upper end of the spring to increase or diminish the pressure of therod upon the valve, and a nut and washer encircling the upper part ofthe thumb-screw, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ISAIAII IV. VOODS. lVitnesses:

E. J. HALL, II. B. Weens,

IOO

IIO

